Transportation Planner

Job Title

Overall responsibility for day-to-day load planning execution of multiple modes of transportation (intermodal, truckload, multi-stop, and less-than-truckload) for specific distribution/ manufacturing location(s).

Coordinate daily load planning across all modes of transportation, reviewing and making recommendations for operational improvements. Work with customer service, distribution centers, carriers, and planning to optimize customer service and operational efficiencies. Resolve any shipment or delivery issues with warehousing and transportation partners. Collaborate with all functions within Logistics to provide performance feedback on transportation and warehouse providers.

Essential Functions

• Must be able to multi-task and work under a demanding, fast-paced environment
• Review shipment routing and freight costs to optimize service and cost according to published routing guide
• Use knowledge of transit time, carrier base, and cost to determine how and when to assign our refrigerated carriers to daily shipments, adjusting pickup and delivery dates as needed
• Effectively and proactively communicate with customer service, plants/DCs, and carriers to minimize impact of late/potentially late trucks
• Must understand financials of transportation and impact on department P&L to make effective current and future operational decisions
• Ensure that carrier(s) follow LSNA protocol—timely appointing, appropriate drop trailer pools, timely pickup and delivery, timely status updates, tender acceptance rate, on-time pickup, and on-time delivery
• Work daily within our Transportation Management System (TMS) for scheduling, reporting, and analytics
• Monitor carrier performance and follow-up with carriers when improvements are needed
• Approve upcharges and additional costs with carriers when needed
• Take on special projects and duties as assigned by management

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or a combination of experience and education
• Experience in consumer-packaged goods
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel

Preferred Qualifications

• Transportation/logistics management experience
• Working knowledge of TMS
• Experience in refrigerated and less-than-truckload transportation
• Ability to prioritize and organize assignments
• Strong analytical skills